EVERETT, Wash., March 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing's (NYSE: BA) 787 Dreamliner team has been honored with a 2012 Aviation Week Laureate Award in Aeronautics/Propulsion. The award was bestowed by the editors of Aviation Week to recognize the team's extraordinary accomplishments.

"Boeing made a bold decision to combine advanced aerodynamics, new composite materials, more-electric systems, fuel-efficient engines and a totally new production paradigm," said Graham Warwick, Aviation Week senior editor, Technology, in presenting the award. "And now it's paying off for both the manufacturer and the operator."

For the past 55 years, Aviation Week has recognized pioneers and leaders in aviation, aerospace and defense with this prestigious award. Past winners in the Aeronautics/Propulsion category include the X-51A Waverider Hypersonic Vehicle Team and the Pratt & Whitney PW1000G geared turbofan development team.

"On behalf of the men and women around the world who worked tirelessly to ensure the 787 Dreamliner is an amazing airplane that embodies our customers' and passengers' hopes and dreams, we deeply appreciate this prestigious honor," said Scott Fancher, who led the 787 program for more than three years and represented the team in accepting the award.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is the first airplane to provide both long distance capabilities with mid-size capacity, allowing airlines to open new, non-stop routes preferred by the traveling public. The airplane is 20 percent more fuel efficient than similarly sized airplanes. Sixty customers have 868 Dreamliners on order, making the 787 the fastest-selling widebody airplane in commercial aviation history.